PS 3521 
.132 V4 
1902 
Copy 1 



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Class .X^*^ " " '_ 
Book X 3 -2 V 4" 
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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



VISION OF THE AGES 



AN EPIC POKM 



BY 



J. A. KIEFERLE 



Only when one with the great Over- soul. 
Can we expect to reach our heav'nly goal, 

And soar amid 

The myst'ries, hid 
To earth-bound, self-bound mortals, who 
The grandeurs of the higher life, eschew. 



PUBI^ISHEp BY THE AUTIIOr- 

Salt J^ii^ «9>7' . Uo '•' ' 



Trfr\»BR*RV OF 

CONGRESS. 
T in CoP»fce ReCE4VEC 

AUG. II 1902 

n CoPvmoHT Eirmy 
CLASS CL. xXa Ite. 

3 •? 1 -] 

C01»Y B. 






Copyrighted 1902 

BY 

J. A. KIEFERLE. 



PREFACE. 



There is only one true gospel— the gospel of Jesus 
Christ. All others are counterfeit. During the course 
oftime, this gospel received various shades of interpre- 
tation. To show the fallacy of these and to state the 
correct one, consistent with Revelation, is the duty of 
this volume. 

That the word gospel means "good news of great joy" 
no one of common intelligence will dispute. But to 
whom, according to present day theology, is it good 
news? Only to a few— the little flock. The rest of the 
world, is left in judgment to eternal torture. The 
theory of conscious suffering after death, seems to be so 
tenaciously held by many professing christians, that it 
blots out of their minds the beauty of God's character 
and the simplicity of his plan for the world's redemption. 
The true gospel is incompatible with the doctrine of 
eternal torment. Is God mocking us? Has he proclaim- 
ed to the world good news of great joy, but instead is 
sending men to a place of torment to satisfy his fierce 
wrath and anger? O what a devilish thought! How 
men can entertain it and call themselves humane beings, 
is inconceivable. 

What we need above all else to-day, is a diligent search 
for truth, regardless of its cost. How can we get it? 
Only thro Revelation. Christ said: "Thy Word is truth." 
But what is that Word? The science and the only true 
science which solves the problem of redemption. Truth 
then, being God's Word, is science. When we desire to 
study the divine science, we must lay aside all precon 
ceived ideas and theological traditions, and approach in 
the spirit of humility for the ground upon which we are 
standing is holy and cannot be profaned by man-made 
theories. Step by step, we must gain ground until we 



PREFACE. 

have come to the full measure of the perfect stature of 
Christ. Nothing short of this will sufiQce, or we will 
find ourselves in a labyrinth of erroneous ideas, unable 
to grope our way thro, because of the intense darkness. 

What is the true gospel? Selection and restitution. 
This age, is for the purpose of selecting a little flock, a 
people for his name, to bless all the families of the 
earth with the knowledge of the tidings of great joy. 
The Scriptural conception of the great I AM, is one who 
wii.LS that ALL shall be saved and come to an exact 
knowledge of the truth. But this requires a universal 
opportunity — salvation for the dead as well as for the 
living. 

We promise the reader, that if he investigates this 
subject from an unbiased standpoint and follows the 
Lord in obedience, he shall know whether this doctrine 
is of God or man. And tho the billows of doubt may 
rage without, the clouds of sorrow and grief hover o'er 
him; his eye of faith will penetrate thro the clouds, and 
in vision he will behold God's smile of recognition rest' 
ing upon his act of obedience. Tho the whole world 
may ridicule him for his acceptance of the true gospel, 
his spirit will be as calm as the waters that cover the 
mighty deep; as firm as the mountains that swell their 
shadowy grandeur o'er the narrow dell. Amid all trials, 
he will come forth more than conqueror thro him that 
loved us and gave himself for us. That this volume may 
lead some soul into the light and assist him in grasping 
something of the lenght and the breadth, the height and 
the depth of God's love for the world, is the humble 
prayer of the 



Author. 



July ^th, ip02. 
Salt Lake City, 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



I. Dedication 9 

II. The World That Was 11 

III. The Present Evil World 13 

IV. The Day of Wrath l7 

V. The Purpose of the Ages 24 

VI. The Angel of the Lord 33 

VII. Nature's House of Prayer 43 



t^tslon of the Hqc^. 



DEDICATION. 

To thee O God, the self-existing One 

The highest Force, the world's life-giving sun, 

Creator of this boundless universe, 

Unwilling that the race should e'er the curse 

Of Adam's sin be made to suffer in 

This peaceless vale of night; to thee who in 

Thy matchless mercy 'fore the world was made, 

Foreseeing Adam's fall, didst plan to aid 

In the redemptive work with grace divine; 

Whose perfect attributes harmonious shine 

When viewed in Calvary's sacrifice; to thee 

The Father of all lights and ceaseless majesty 

Who rules supreme, this book I dedicate. 

'Twas not for filthy lucre's sake nor honors great 

That I the heav'nly Muse implored for grace 



10 DEDICATION. 

To write these feeble lines. To win in th' race 

For joint-heirship with Christ, this is the one 

And only purpose of my life. When done 

With life's great task, when Christ is formed in me 

Then let me soar to realms of bliss and be 

One of thy vessels, blessing all the race. 

Within my soul, the knowledge of thy grace 

As manifested in thy wondrous Plan, 

Has wrought a lasting change, so that I can 

No more the pleasures of this world pursue — 

The old has passed away; all things are new, 

O let thy blessings rest upon this book! 

May it aid those whose hearts forever look, 

To gain the truth; the truth shall make them free. 

We only wrote with aim of pleasing thee, 

Not to obtain the sinful world's applaud. 

Thy sov'reign will be done. Thy name we laud. 

Submissively we bow to thy command; 

Whate'er the task, we give thee mind and hand. 



VISION OF THE AGES. 



Six thousand years have passed since God creat'd 
The wondrous being of his wondrous grace, 
With faculties serene and great 
Ne'er since developed by the fallen race. 
Yes, he was perfect made. Upon his soul 
He bore the image of his God which gave 
To him a source of peace and joy untold 
And caused him for his sweet communion crave, 
And in his presence to delight. But why — 
O depths of the profoundest mystery- 
Should one, as fair as great, enchanted by 
The devil's pow'r so disobedient be, 
To break the law of God and thus to fall 
Into the grasp of sin? For God foresaw 
By reason of his conscious self that all 

II 



12 VISION OF THE AGES. 

Thro Adam would transgress his sacred law 
And thus deprive themselves of life. Why did 
He then not change his foreknown plan and save 
Us from the curse of sin? Why not forbid 
That we become the captives of the grave 
hi which there is no light? But praise fo Thee 
O God! hi thy eternal plan as in 
Thy Word revealed, I now this mystery 
Can solve. Alone thro grave and death and sin 
Could man the sad and bitter lessons learn 
That make him fit for new earth's majest\-. 
That teach him all the devil's charms to spurn 
And thro Christ's law to set his being free. 
*Tistrue that God could have prevented sin 
O'er us to reign and intervened before 
The fall took place. But would not that have been 
A great defeat of his own plan? Therefore 
Let men adore his wondrous might and bow- 
Before his manifested works. The fact 
That he permitted sin, to us should show 
A gracious, noble and a purposed act 
Which must work out some greater good. His great 
And noble purpose was to manifest 
His righteous law of love. Did he create 
Us with a sense of right and wrong? Then let 
No man misjudge the work of God. To make 
Us otherwise, we would have been but mere 
Machines; > ea low^er than the beasts that take 
The venomed stins without least sign of fear. 
Yet after man had fallen into sin 



\' IS ION ov rHK a(;ks. 13 

God placed the world tliat was into the pow'r 
Of angel hands to rule and keep it in 
The limits of the right. But like a tow'r 
Its sins grew unto heav'n. Men forgot 
The Maker's great command to heed his voice 
That spake within their souls. And on the spot 
Where blood was open shed, was heard the noise 
Of merry dance. The youth rushed forth to gain 
His bride and then to plurtge into deep crime. 
And O thro wrath the many thousands slain 
Are unknown in the annals of earth's time. 
So great was sin that God did hide his face 
And in his righteous wrath and anger swore 
Destruction to the human race 
Which made that world exist no more. 



Yet God's eternal plan was not complete 

When he destroyed the world that was-. He k'Ufw 

What men abo\e all else would need 

Was one who could their wicked hearts renew. 

But to accomplish this 'twas' needful that 

Thro preparation, sinful man be taught 

The folly of his evil will. Begat 

Not God in love this plan, *twere naught 

For man to strive to gain his former place 

Of fellowship with him, for held by sin 

In captive chains of night, the human race 

Could ne'er a spotless, pure condition win. 

So God a second epoch still unfurled 



14 VISION OF THE AGES. 

To human view, that his great plan might reach 
Its utmost height — the present evil world, 
As us the Sacred Scriptures plainly teach. 
And in this world three ages stand displayed 
Which all progressive toward a purpose work. 
Why then should Christians ever be dismayed 
Tho e'en the tempter in their midst may lurk? 
Is not the God who formed the earth, endowed 
With might to keep our trembling soul? 
Is not his Word eternal, changeless, bowed 
Before by all the years that o'er us roll? 
He is the truth that changeless stands tho e'en 
The sun should melt from its own heat and stars 
Should fade and th' moon her lustre lose. Yet in 
This all, his noble purpose never mars. 

But why thus called, the present evil world? 
Does naught of good exist? Ah yes, the child 
Of Go'd is in the world and still unfurled 
Waves Christ's blood-cover'd banner high, tho wild 
The evolution billows roar. Tis called 
An evil world because the devil rules 
And is the prince thereof. He holds enthralled 
The world of man in sin. They are his tools. 
How's this? Satan the prince thereof? Are we 
Not taught that Christ is king and reigns to day? 
Alas how sad that men of thought can be 
So ignorant of what the Scriptures say. 
If Christ did reign today, this world would be 
A better world. Sin, poverty and pain 
Would cease and only truth entirely free 



VISION OF THE AGES. 15 

From dross, could 'mong the nations foothold gain. 
**My Kingdom,'' saith the Lord, **is not of this 
Perverted world." The reason.? Satan is 
The prince thereof. But why does satin reign.? 
Did God grant him this pow'r? Ah no. At first 
The perfect man was king. But by the stain 
Of sin, because of which the earth was cursed. 
He lost his right and ever since that bane 
He's been the vasal of the "evil one." 
But praise the Lord, when Jesus takes his throne 
When all the saints their crowns have won. 
Then shall the dying race no longer groan 
With pangs of sin, for satan will be bound 
A thousand years, and Michael will be king 
In all the land. The glorious news will sound 
Throughout the earth, "salvation doth he bring 
Who sitteth on the throne.'' O world rejoice! 
Long hast thou dwelt in sin's dark night. 
Ere long shalt thou receive a grander choice 
'Tween death and life, 'tween wrong and right. 
Yes, soon this world will end. The prophet says: 
"The present Heavens and the Earth 
Are by the same Word treasured up, 
Kept for a Fire unto a Day 
Of Judgment and Destruction 

Of impious men In which 

The Heav'ns shall pass away with 
Rushing sound; the Elements 
Shall melt with fervent heat; the Earth 
And all her works shall be consumed." 



,6 VISION' OF THE AGES. 

What kind of fire is tliis? Not literal. 

But let us search the Scriptures less 

We too misguided be like those who fell 

Into absurdities by failing to behold 

The harmony of God's eternal Plan. 

By Israel's ancient Seer we are told, 

"The Earth fore'er remaineth."' , Can 

This mean a lifral conflagration? No. 

Yet some will say, ''The earth is not to be 

Consumed by fire, but it will undergo 

A purifying process and thus he 

Who made it, will transform the same into 

A paradise for his beloved.*' Is this 

What Peter means? If so, 'tis something new 

To me. Much wonder that the Bible is 

By sceptics sneered at when its advocates 

Belittle it by claiming for it what 

It does not teach? We're to>d that fire awaits 

The earth for utter consummation. Not 

A lit'ral fire nor lit'ral earth. And ask 

You why? Tho hard and difficult the task 

Unless we have the key by which we can 

Behold the Scriptures in their harmony, 

Still would our search be blest. Th' eternal plan 

Altho to all the world a mystery 

Can yet be known by him who seeks divine 

Direction in his search for truth. On him 

Alone illuminating powers shine 

Whose lite is full, o'erflowing to the brim 

With deep submission; else his mind is dark. 



VISION OF THE AGES. 17 

inquiring thus, we learn the nature of 

The coming fire. *To th' ancient Seer hark] 

He tells us that the God of justice, love 

And might, will yet bring order out of the 

Chaotic state, when he begins his task 

Of lifting man from depths of sin to be 

His own and in his mercy's sunshine bask,. 

But ere that time a jealous fire will burn, 

Consuming all the earth, A jealous fire 

Consume a ht'ral earth? Displeased we turn 

Away from such interpretation. Th' fire 

Symbolic is and so the earth. What can 

It mean? Complete destruction of 

The present social fabric, which to man 

Has been a reign ot woe. In th' past, not love 

Has ruled the world, but gain of wealth and hate. 

The race is mad; its reason is deranged. 

Men dwell ^mong beasts, from small e'en unto great 

Until their * 'seven times" are passed, ere changed 

They'll be to human state. Yet dreadful the 

Transition, for 'twill cause destruction vast 

And limitless. Its terrors, none can flee. 

E'en now it is at hand. O, that 'twere past! 



The waves of air are pregnant with the sound 
Of clashing weapons stained with blood, as when 
In battle rage; with beat of drum. The ground 
Is trembling 'neath the march of angry men 

* Zephaniah 3.: 8,9. 



iS \'1SI()\ OF THE A(;KS. 

Who sway o"er land a countless multitude, 
And ri_«;ht and left deal heavy blows to wealth. 
Was e'er such tumult seen, such practice rude 
Invadino; lives of men with steel, by stealth? 

Look yon! A crowd of men with banners red, 
hiscr'ibed, "Let live or die, we want not iiold 

but bread,'' 
Led by a leader with a giant form, 
Are marching northward — vanguards of a storm. 
What seek ye men? Why roam ye thro the land? 
By the eternal God, 1 say, disband! 
Let not your anger reach its utmost height. 
Be calm! Abhor the wrong, stand for the right. 
Ye barken not! But louder grows your shout! 
What is this wild commotion all about? 
Are ye not men? As men then reason right! 
Cast not aside true wisdom's holy light. 
Indeed you've suffered much. Your children died 
From lack 6i food, and many nights you sighed 
Because you knew the foll'wing day 
Had naught for you but horror and dismay. 
You spent your strength, but the returns were 

small, 
While others lounged with ease in palace-hall. 
You cried for bread, your cry unheard remained 
While in your soul the sense of pride was pained. 
You sought to gain by law your just demands, 
But lo! the laws were changed by fiendish hands. 
Your brow was wet with blood, your form was bent 
Beneath life's heavy load. Your heart was rent 



VISION OV THK ACxKS, U) 

In twain at sioht of misery that cried 

For venueance on oppression spreadin^i wide. 

You knew not what the future had in store 

If time the despotism onward hore. 

Yet why should ye l^e led to follow in 

The footpath of the despot's dreadful sin? 

Why not return to homes where calmness waits 

To lead \'ou thro reflection's golden gates, 

To realms where onl\' love supreme!)- reigns 

And ev'ry smful thought and act disdains? 

O wickedness! Unheeding my advice! 

Alas, you'll have to suffer for it thrice. 

1 see them step before a mansion great — 
Their eyes are fixed, their smile betrays deep hate. 
To him within they cry, ''come down. 
You money-hoarder, robber, devil's clown. 
We have enough of this; the time has come 
When man to man we rise above the slum 
To reap the harvest, casting 'side the tares 
And claiming for each one his equal shares 
Of right. No more shall king or prince rule oVr 
These heads but freedom dweM from shore to shore. 
We are the kings; the kingdom is for all 
And not for him alone who dwells in palace-hall. 
The one who made us, made us free to dwell 
On earth, and not to groan in th' pauper's hell. 
Your cup is full. Now drink it down and die 
With anguish great. Your carcass soon will lie 
Where fowls of air and wolves will seek their prey. 
What haste? Come down, we sav. 



20 VISlOX OF THE AGES, 

No'time for idle wordsl Too late you see 
The folly of your crime. Come down or we 
Will break thro doors. Ah, plead for pity now? 
We also plead but plead in vain for thou 
Didst scorn our cry. When anger rules 
The sense of pity dies. We're not the fools 
Of yesterday, but now demand our equal right. 
Long have we suffered in oppression's night."' 

The inmate sees that prayers will not prevail, 
Sd he unlocks his covers with a wail. 
And out he casts his silver and his gold^ 
For greed of which he had his conscience sold. 
But lo! the crowd replies with fiendish smile. 
The gold remains untouched. Another pile 
He throws before their feet and pleads that they 
Might spare his life and go their way. 
But louder grows their cry for vengeance and 
Each one stands ready at the first command 
To jump upon his victim like the beast 
Jumps on his prey. They act as if a feast 
Of fat things were prepared for them. Not one 
Is calm. And see! What has the rabble done.? 
The doors are down. In one great mass they 

stream 
Into the rich man's room. Their eyes full-gleam 
With wrath. ''We want your life. Lay down 

your head 
Upon this couch. Ah, cursed one dost thou dread 
To face the coming judgment day? 
Kneel then before thy God and pray. 



VISION OF THE AGES. 21 

Implore high heaven's mercy on thy soul, 
Lest billows of destruction o'er thee roll. 
Lay down thy hoary head without delay." 
With quivering frame the rich man doth obey. 
At one hard stroke the head fallsto the ground, 
While merry laughter goes the room around. 
Not satisfied, they seek his wife and child 
And fall on them like beasts, ferocious, wild. 
Then to the flames they give the mansion great, 
The object of a dreadful fate. 
You say, 'tis horrible! Then wait until 
You hear what bloody deeds will follow still. 
The news is brought that thrones are tottering 
The world around. Altho the wealthy cling 
Tenaciously to life, their pleadings die 
On deafened ears. They hear the cry 
Of vengeance rolling on the waves of air. 
They plan resistance, yet not one will dare 
Raise hand or sword. Somehow they feel 

the crowd 
Is stronger nov/ than when it humbly bowed 
Before them as its money-kings. They see 
Their judgment drawing nigh. Yet none can tlee. 
When heaven speaks, earth's mortals must obey. 
''Vengeance is mine," saith God, "1 will repay.'' 
Doth he repay too much? Speak men of dust! 
Are not his awful judgments just? 
Do you deserve less than you now receive? 
What is our lot when we the path of justice leave? 
The chaos spreads. The state sinks 'neath 



\- 1 S [ () X ( ) F T H K AG E S 

the blow 
Of anarchy's advance. And lo! 
What yesterday seemed like a mighty tow'r 
Of wealth combined, is fallen at the po\\"r 
Of labor's ra^^e. 

Yes, this is the great day 
Of wrath, which all the world o'er holds its sway. 
A day of dread to those who turned their backs 

on him, 
Who daily worshipped by the seraphim. 
Rules in the heavens high and e"en on earth 
Wields mightily his pow'r. Tis grief, not mirth 
When he in scales of justice weighs, all those 
Who "gainst his flock in persecution 'rose, 
And wrote with blood the record of their crime. 
It was earth's blackest stain, its darkest time. 

O dreadful day, foretold by Seers of eld, 
Who in their hands, heav"n's brightest promise 

held, 
To those that would obey but awful dread 
To those who in their willfulness would spread 
Their wicked works. Thou art the day 
In which not e'en the mighty ones can say 
That they are safe, for w hen they think they 

stand 
They're O'v'erthrown by God's almighty hand. 
Thou dreadful day, thou seest no church on 
earth 
Now made immortal at her second birth. 
No church nor Christ, O state of great despair, 



\ lSlv)N OF THK AGES. 23 

Which never found its equal anywhere! 

Thou dreadful day, thou seest a conflict .ureat, 
Between earth's wealth and those who lono- ha\e 

wait'd 
For recognition of their equal right. 
Their time has come. They'd rather die in th" tight 
Than to remain the rich man's slave. Nor can 
The wealthy ever hlame the working-man. 

Thou dreadful day, thou seest the downfall of 
Great Babylon, who oft in pride did scoff 
At Jesus* little flock which would not buy 
Her silver and her gold. And ask'st thou whv? 
Because her heart is filthy to the core 
And from her mouth great swelling words did pour 
Which are abomination in the sight 
Of him who rules with terror and with might. 
But lo! her sins have reached unto the sky 
Whose pow'r she nevermore will dare defy. 
\n one brief hour is she to be consumed 
To which she was from all beginning doomed. 

This is the day in which God's wrath like fire 
Falls on the wicked world in terror dire. 
This is the day, in which destruction reigns 
On sea, in vale, on hills and plains. 
This is the day in which this evil world will end, 
The day in which all knees before him bend. 
In willingness or force, for God doth reign. 
All opposition 'gainst him, is in vain. 
This is the jealous fire which will consume 
The social earth. It is a dreadful doom 



24 VISION OF THE AGES. 

But just. Spread on then, day of Lord, spread on! 
Thy work is vast and terrible to gaze upon. 

IV. 

Thus have I sung of how the world will end. 
And now O heavenly Muse thy spirit send 
That I may show God's purpose with the race 
In ages past. O, let me see thy face 
O'er-beaming with a tender smile, for I 
Am dreary and the clouds in yonder sky 
Forebodings are of certain ill. My heart 
Is sad. I long to act true self's great part. 
But lo! hemmed in by walls of grief , 1 can 
Ne'er life's vast hill of noble pursuit scan. 
Take pity on me; give me wings to fly 
And soar in boundless realms of thought, that I 
Might show the secret of the grandest plan 
E'er manifested to the mind of mortal man* 
Illuminate my mind! Make darkness disappear, 
And grant to me, O Muse, a vision clear. 
Like Milton, lead me to the sacred peak 
The sphere of life, where 1 may seek 
Unbound, to probe the knowledge of all good 
And make it known unto the brother-hood. 

Too long has man been kept in ignorance 
Of his true destiny. One single glance 
At orthodoxy's creeds, will show that they 
Were ''hatched" to keep us from the way 
Of truth. Therefore O light shine forth that v\^e 
Might understand the grand philosophy 



VISION OF THE ACzES. 25 

Of human life. Our urgent inquiry 

Is not a shameless curiosity, 

But a deep longing of the soul, to know 

Why we were placed into this world of woe. 

Why all this suff'ring, why the curse of sin.^* 
Did God create the race that he might in 
His dreadful anger send them to the realm, 
Where everlasting burnings over-whelm 
But ne'er consume the soul? Did he 
The consequences of the fall foresee. 
And failed to intervene while jaws of hell 
Stood open to devour? O canst thou tell. 
How I may know, thou ever-present light, 
What harmony this bears to th' sense of right? 
Or did the all-pervading Life create 
The world, but by one master-stroke thro hate. 
The evil one o'er-threw his wondrous plan? 
What part then in the dreadful fall, hath man? 
Or more, is hell our awful destiny. 
Which God conceived throughout eternity? 
Alas, how sad that man, endued with grace and love, 
Ascribes such attributes to God above. 

Whence came the doctrine of eternal hell? 
'Twas hatched in ages dark by priest-craft fell. 
'Twas used to drive into the church's fold, 
The heathen 'round; to gain a stronger hold 
Upon the conscience of the laity. 
We too once clung to such philosophy. 
But praise the Lord our eyes were opened wide. 



26 \'1S10X OF THE AGES. 

So that the creeds of Babylon no more can hide. 

The greatness of God's mercy from our view. 

The comprehension of his plan, a new 

And never sought for field of thought has ope'd, 

Which makes us sad to think that we have groped 

So long in error's dreadful night, 

Unguided by the hope of heaven's light. 

What then has been God's purpose in the past? 
Was it to save the world from darkness vast.'' 
If so, his work has been a failure great. 
Look on the world which he did first create. 
What heed did they to Noah's message give.^ 
How few thro that destroying flood did live, 
To tell the justice of God's judgment true 
And their allegiance to him to renew? 
Save Noah and his own, all sank within 
The flood's deep waters — caused by dreadful sin. 
is e'er God's noble work a failure, pray? 
Or doth he merely with his creatures play? 

From what, to what, was Noah saved, pray tell? 
To heaven's realms from claws of awful hell? 
Or from cessation in the flood? What right 
Then has the church to claim that present light 
By which we view the heavenly honors, shone 
Upon the world that was? We, who have grown 
In knowledge of God's wondrous plan 
Await not such a dreadful doom for man. 

The patriarchal age. God's purpose there 
Was to select from 'mons earth's fair 



VISION OF THE AGES. 27 

And noble souls, such agents as could see 
The dawning of his grace so full and free, 
And be recipients of the knowledge true 
Concerning his great plan, brought to their view- 
The knowledge of the preparation made 
To execute that plan, so long delayed. 

The evening sky, aglow with starry lights, 
Smiled on the silent vale and mountain heights. 
While Abram sat beside the glist'ning stream — 
His gaze fixed deep as if in solemn dream — 
A voice from heaven, sudden spake. 
His face turned pale, his frame began to shake. 
"Thy country and thy kindred leave, and go 
Unto a distant land which 1 will show 
To thee. There shall thy seed be multiplied. 
There shall thy name be honored far and wide. 
Thou shalt become a blessing to the world, 
Until sin's pow'r is from this planet hurled." 
He thus obeyed and to the holy land 
He journeyed till he reached far Jordan's strand. 
And there his name was changed to Abraham 
Because he trusted in the great I AM. 
What does this teach? Selection. Why did God 
Choose him alone 'mong thousands scattered 

'broad.? 
If torment is the consequence of th' fall. 
Why then did not the Lord choose all? 
Could you believe in God as just and wise 
Who could behold the pain and hear the sighs 



28 VISION OF THE AGES, 

Of billions stiff' ring in the realm of woe 
And not a sign of love or pity show, 
Or choose "mong thousands only one? 
Ah, such a God, my heart would shun. 
God's purpose then was not to save the world. 
Before the tempter from his throne was hurled. 
But to select a class of righteous men, 
To trust the knowledge of his plan to them. 

The Jewish age. God's purpose there, again 
Selection was, but not of single men. 
He chose a nation to obey his will. 
The promise of earth's future glory to fulfill. 
*'You only have 1 known" said God, " 'mong all 
The nations of the earth." Therefore his call 
To them, excluded all not of that race. 
How then shall these e'er see his wondrous grace. 
If hope dies at death's portal dark. 
And even time doth show to them no spark 
Of God's eternal love? Is that the way 
His love and wisdom exercise their sway? 
Ah no, my Gad is not the product of 
Man's feeble brain. His attribute is love. 
I worship him because he leads aright, 
Tho 'round me gather shades of sin's dark night. 

In God's due time the Saviour came to die. 
He saw man's grief and heard his plaintive sigh 
For light — the light that 'lluminates the mind. 
And helps us harmony with God to find. 
He came unto his own, and yet his own 



VlSIONM)F THE AGES, 29 

Left him to fight the tempter's wiles alone. 
Yea more, they hated him arid said that he 
Was of the devil and thus could not be 
Their promised king. His state was humble, still 
His one desire was to obey God's will. 

My mind. In vision, goes to yonder days. 
' see the city sparkling in the rays 
Of light. The temple once the sacred place 
Of God, is turned into a market base. 
And lo! what seeks that crowd? Why throng 

they round 
That pale faced mortal down-bent by the weight 
Of grief? What means that moaning sound 
Of voices rude which manifests such hate? 
He is no criminal, for see his face 
Beams with a smile of deepest sympathy. 
He looks like one of God's perfected race, 
Come orth from fiery trial victoriously. 

Stand back thou brutal crowd, and dare not lay 
Thy hands upon this holy man, or thou 
Wilt yet behold a greater curse some day 
Than that which on thy head is resting now. 
Stand back! What has he done to make thee cry 
Like wolves for stainless blood? A prophet? O, 
How many by thy cruel hand did die 
Because they would not stoop themselves so low 
As to behold thy crimes without a blush. 
Let shame on shame take hold of thee. Behold 
Thy terr'ble doom, God's awful curse, like rush 



30 VISION OF THE AGES. 

Of torrent will o'er-take thee when thy bold 
And mighty men, cry * 'peace" when they should 

wail. 
Where tak'st thou him? Why lay that heavy cross 
On shoulders feeble, frame so frail? 
Dost thou not comprehend his dreadful loss 
Of blood, resulting from his scourging, grief 
O'er sin? Ah yes thou wilt not hear. And yet 
This noble sufferer finds his relief 
hi knowledo^e that his God will not forget 
Him while he bears that cross — a ransom price 
For fallen man. A ransom price. Rejoice 
O world, thy Lord hath made the sacrifice 
That in his day thou mayest hear his voice 
And leave thy tomb. The man of sorrows then 
Will bless thee with the tidings of great joy; 
Will lead thee on in endless ages, when 
He doth all evil from the earth destroy. 
An "anti-lutron" Christ the Saviour is. 
O heart be glad, and know that this 
Is super-human, for the plan 
Could ne'er have been conceived by mortal man. 

Hail Son of God; thou thrice beloved Son! 
Tho' all the world thy person shun 
And nail thee to the cruel tree. 
Yet will 1 humbl}' worship thee. 
Far'more than earth's un-numbered wealth. 
Ott gained by men through secret stealth. 
Art thou to me, Redeemer of man-kind. 



VISION OF THE AGES 31 

For by thy grace, 1, heaven's glory find. 

The world denies thy ransom-sacrifice; 

Still thou didst pay the necessary price, 

That in due time the race, may tread the way 

Which leads from death's domain, to endless day. 

What was the price? Thy life, existence, all 

That Adam did enjoy before the fall. 

Thou wast a perfect man, not man and God 

Or else thy blood could not the race have bought. 

The God-man theory is a fiendish lie — 

A Papal doctrine, which with shame will die 

When truth supremely reigns. To us there is 

But one and only one creator. This 

The Scriptures plainly teach. How can 

The human and divine be found in man? 

As man tiien thou didst give thy life that all 

Might rescued be from th' consequence of Adam's 

fall. 
What tribute shall 1 bring to thee, 
For this redemptive work, which all shall see? 
How may 1 spend my life in useful ways 
And render thee my heart-felt songs of praise? 
The world will yet for help, look to above. 
And recognize the greatness of thy love. 

The Gospel age. God's purpose' gain 
Selection is of individual men 
And women who can see the heav'niy prize 
And run for it in spite of sacrifice. 
This class is but a little company. 



32 VISION OF THE AGES. 

Their one desire is to be ever free 

From earthly dross. From morn till night 

They follow on to reach the heav'nly light. 

This earth is not their home. Tho living, yet 

They are to all the world forever dead, to let 

The Christ be formed within. How grand 

To find a little consecrated band, 

Amid earth's pleasures, yearn for realms above, 

Where dwell supremely happiness and love. 

What is the nature of this heavenly prize 

For which this flock makes such a sacrifice? 

Joint-heirship with their Lord, equality 

In ruler-ship, to live in majesty 

With God. O blessing great, beyond comparison. 

Who would not for such glowing honors run? 

The mind is dark indeed, which cannot see 

The glory of such endless majesty. 

Thou little flock, forsaken and despised. 
Neglected by the world and oft chastised. 
Thy Lord will yet exalt thee in due time. 
These trials are but a prelude to the rhymes 
Of yonder bliss, when free from grief and pain , 
Thou wilt with Christ in glory reign. 
Thy Father called thee, in the night of sin. 
Immortal honors in life's race to win. 
Thy name is written in Jehovah's mind. 
Thrice blest art thou of human-kind. 
Be calm, tho griefs wild billows o'er thee roll, 
They cannot hurt, but purify thy soul. 



VISION OF THE AGES. 33 

V. 

The sun had traveled toward the western sk>'; 
The fleecy clouds sailed in the heavens high; 
The air was fragrant with the ev'ning dew 
And o'er the vale, the zephyrs softly blew. 
With Milton in my hand, I read within my bow'r, 
Where oft I sat in autumn's twilight hour 
With Lotta — angel of my life and gazed 
Into her dark blue eyes, where blazed 
Love's radiant flame. Deep silence reigned around, 
Save now and then the barking of a hound. 
I seemed to dream. My mind was far away. 
In days, when youth's fair spirit held its sway. 
I saw the homestead old; the lake beside 
The town, on which we rowed at even-tide, 
And sang to music sweet; a paradise 
It seemed, unbroken by earth's pains or sighs. 
But suddenly a voice, a stone's throw 'way. 
Aroused me from my dream. I heard it say 
In plaintive tones, that still abide with me: 
**0 that this earth, robbed of all majesty. 
Were still the happy home of mortals fair, 
As 'twas, when God the first created pair 
Placed into paradise, the object of 
His boundless, ceaseless, uncreated love. 
How sad that man his first state did not keep. 
But 'llowed sin's lust, into his soul to creep. 
And since that day, the race into the tomb 
By millions rush — a state of deepest gloom. 



34 VISION OF THE AGES. 

And 1, once in yon realms, an angel bright, 
Am made to suffer in this dreadful night. 
I see the present full of changes great. 
But do not know, when anguish will abate. 
O could I rise to realms of bliss once more, 
And dwell with God on that celestial shore." 

^'Whence came that voice," I said , *'Who dare 
intrude 
My private park? Who is the villian rude?" 
And jumping up, I spied a maiden fair, 
With dark blue eyes and golden hair. 
The picture of an angel bright. 
She stood before me in the evening light. 
*'Who can it be? Such beauty, I 
Have never gazed on in the years gone by. 
Speak maiden fair. Why art thou here? 
Some forlorn soul, perchance, I fear. 
Altho this park of mine, is private place. 
Yet be assured, it hath for thee an ample space. 
Come, take my hand and sit thee down to rest, 
And let these roses 'dorn thy heaving breast. 
What is thy name? Art thou a stranger here? 
Be not afraid to tell me, maiden dear. 
My mission is to save; to point the wayward soul. 
To heaven's bright and never-fading goal." 

With blushes deep, she made reply. "My name 
Is Dena. Dena? Yes, and hither came. 
To see this lovely place. I take delight 
In gazing on these flowers bright. 



VISION OF THE AGES. 35 

My fainting soul loves to behold the pure, 

Which strengthens it, life's trials to endure. 

For as the sun now sets behind the western hill, 

So death, some day, this throbbing heart will still. 

1 know not why I live, but this 1 know. 

That to the God of love, my life I owe. 

How sad that man, held captive in sin's chain, 

For ages past, has suffered endless pain. 

Why did our God, allow the evil one such might 

To drag the race, into death's dreadful night? 

I do not grumble at his providence. 

But I would know the fountain, whence 

The present evil sprang." 

'*Thy inquiry," 
I said, **is one of highest dignity. 
A thousand minds have tried to solve this great. 
Perplexing problem of man's fallen state. 
But few have known the grandeur of God's plan 
To elevate the race of man. 
This is indeed a dreadful night of woe, 
But soon the groaning, dying world will know 
That God is love, and that his holy will. 
Throughout the universe, is reigning still. 
What is that will? To give the race again 
What they erst-while posessed, but seek in vain 
Until God's kingdom is set up, when he 
Who died upon the cross of Calvary 
Will lead the captives forth." 

''Dost thou believe," 
She asked, "that we will 'gain receive 



36 VISION OF THE AGES. 

Our paradisial home? O tliat 'twere true, 
For then would I become a creature new." 

"Why dost thou doubt? Believe that he who 
made 
The universe, hath pow'r to re-create 
The race, and even paradise. 
O let thy thoughts, above sin's discord rise, 
To view God's perfect attributes, then will 
Thy mind becalm, and what erst-while seemed ill 
And out of tune, will show itself to thee 
As one eternal plan of love which he 
Will manifest to all, in his due time. 
To me that plan seems noble, grand, sublime.*' 

"I know that somewhere in God's Word, "tis 
said — 
Me thinks that, yesterday the very words 1 read — 
That satan will be bound and Christ will reign. 
To save the dying world from grief and pain. 
But what of those who long since dead? Will they 
Participate in this redemption pray? 
Or are they lost, fore'er extinct, to be 
An object lesson for the future race, to see? 
And what of those whom God did not select? 
Are they because of this, forever wrecked? 
Is there no hope for them beyond the grave. 
From everlasting death their souls to save?" 

'*Ah yes, my child," I said, ''Christ died for all. 
And only wilfull sin could cause their endless fall. 
In Adam, all are dead, but Christ shall make 



VISION OF THE AGES. 37 

Each one alive. His saving pow'r will break 
The prison doors of death; destroy the foe, 
Which for the ages past, has caused man 

countless woe. 
If in the past, God's purpose was to choose 
Such as he could for higher honors use. 
Then he must give to them a chance, who were 
Not favored thus, before they can incur 
The penalty of th' second death." 

"But how will they, 
Receive this chance? This question answer, pray." 

**I will. If Christ is man's great substitute 
And by that work has satisfied the attributes 
Of God, then all belong to him by right 
Of purchase. Think you he would 'How the night 
Of sin continue its dread reign 
O'er his dear-bought possession to remain? 
Or would he not, as Lord of all, release 
The race, that sin and death might cease? 
What was the penalty pronounced on man? 
Pray answer this my fair one, if thou can. 
Was it eternal hell, or endless death — 
Extinction, by removal of his breath? 
The latter one? Then what did Jesus pay? 
And from what will he save us in his day? 
What did we lose, when father Adam fell? 
Do not the Scriptures plainly tell? 
'Twas perfect human life and paradise, 
And not the spirit realms beyond the skies. 



38 . VISION OF THE AGES 

Then sure as God doth reign in heav'n bove, 
Who is the author of all perfect love, 
So sure will man receive what he has lost, 
Because the Saviour, by his blood, has paid the 
cost. 

"But what of us, who are — yet I must go, 
For I dare not let dying mortals know. 
The nature of my being, nor why I 
Have left the realms beyond the sky." 

"The nature of thy being? Maiden, speak. 
If thou art not a mortal, tell me, what dost seek 
Among the race? Art thou an angel pure, 
Or fallen one? Suspense I can't endure. 
So thus reply at once." 

But suddenly. 
And faster than my feeble eyes could see, 
She vanished out of sight. I was alone. 
Upon my heart there seemed to rest a stone. 
'*0 Lord," said I, "why this strange scene? 
I pray thee let me know, what it doth mean. 
Let me not fall into the tempter's pow'r, 
But give me grace to stand each day and hour. 
Thy name I love; to thee will I be true, 
Tho e'en the joys of life be few. 
O breathe on me thy grief-subduing peace. 
And grant my feeble faith a rich increase." 
Somewhat encouraged by that prayer, I hied 
Into my room and thro my lattice gazed upon the 
wide 



VISION OF THE AGES. 39 

Expanse of heav'n, until the night 
Advanced. Then with a fond delight 
I read the Word, and laid myself to rest; 
Content to know, tho strange the scene,' the Lord 
knew best. 

'Twas eve. Two weeks had fled since I had 
seen 
That female form. The days between, 
I spent in earnest prayer. My work gave me 
But little idle time. I felt that she 
Who thus disturbed my peace, was anxious still 
To dwarf the purpose of my will. 
So ev'ry thought of her, I cast aside, 
And prayed God's spirit on my soul to 'bide. 
But lo! while in the preparation of 
A sermon, on the greatness of God's love, 
I heard a voice, sing to a music sweet: 

"Dii liebes Kind, komm geh' mit mir, 
Gar schoene spiele, spiel ich mit din' 

"What doth this mean?" And springing to my 

feet, 
I rushed into the drawing room, whence came 
The voice. Yet ev'rything, appeared the same 
As when I left it sev'ral hours before. 
''Thy strength, O God of love, I would implore. 
Is this a dream? Or hath that evil one. 
To music sweet, those verses sung?" 
Again I went to work; the more, for fear 
My idleness would make her re-appear. 



40 VISION OF THE AGES. 

With trembling hands, I wrote ''The greatness of 

Our heavenly Father's boundless love 

Toward fallen man is shown in the 

Great sacrifice of Christ, which he 

Made in due time," when lo! that voice again 

I heard. I threw aside my pen 

And rushed into the room. What did I see? 

That maid sat by the instrument and smilingly 

Bade me ''good eve." 

''What dost thou here?" 
I asked. "Why hast thou left thy hell? 1 fear 
Thy company affords me little joy. 
It even might my soul destroy 
If I indulged too much. Therefore I pray 
Thee by the pow'rs of heaven, go away, 
And leave me with my God alone." 

To this she made reply: "If I had known 
That thou wouldst not appreciate what she. 
Who now in yonder realms, still loveth thee. 
Has sent me here to say, these feet would not 
Have carried me to earth. Is this the lot 
Which I deserve for service? Thou 
Wilt yet before me humbly bow 
When I will demonstrate to thee, 
How I can of much service be." 

"Thy services are not required. My trust 
Lies in the living God. Therefore I must 
Refuse thy aid. Thou art a cast-away. 
What fellow-ship, hath night with day?" 



VISION OF THE AGES 41 

The trial was severe, but God did not forsake. 
The demon fled, and to me, softly spake 
My guardian angel: **Fear not, son. 
This battle, thou hast bravely won. 
Look up. Dost see that golden crown? 
It is for thee. If thou hadst fallen down 
To worship satan's emissary, darkest night 
Would have sorrounded thee; instead, the light 
Of God's eternal Truth shall shine upon 
Thy pilgrim path, to lead thee on and on 
Until thou reachest heaven's happy goal — 
The home of ev'ry consecrated soul. 
Remember that the powers of light 
And darkness are at war. The night 
Of sin has lasted long, but soon the morn 
Of Christ's millennial reign will fully dawn. 
Then all the world shall know that Zion stands 
Upon the mountain tops; and distant lands 
Shall pay their homage to the King of kings. 
While thro the universe his praises soar 

on ether wings. 
Then shall the Gospel, thro His Seer restored. 
Be preached till ev'ry knee shall bow before 

the Lord; 
And those that willingly obey 
His Word, shall walk upon the ''holy way" 
Until they reach the perfect goal. Be true. 
The good adore and seek; the wrong eschew. 
Life's battle may be hard, but it will gain for thee 
A place 'mong heaven's noble, pure, and free. 



42 VISION OF THE AGES . 

Thou art a child of God. Do not despair; 

The Lord will hear thy humble prayer 

For guidance on the narrow way. 

Thy heart may cease to beat; thy form decay, 

Yet Shalt thou rise on wings to yonder height 

Where streams of joy roll on in endless light." 

Auspicious plan! when life is full of woe 
And e'en the stars their light refuse to show; 
When winds and waves, my little bark delay, 
And to the eye, the shore seems far away; 
When made to suffer for the Gospel's sake, 
The chords of grief within my soul awake ; 
When sorrow's vale, affords a doleful view 
And robs hope's mountain of its azure hue; 
I seek, a way-worn soul, thy summer bow'r 
To claim thy saving and thy keeping pow'r. 

Friend of the meek ! without thy piercing light, 
Our minds would grope in dark confusion's night. 
O grant that we may never go astray. 
Nor yield our faith to doubtings or dismay. 
For God's great purpose in the ages past, 
Is reaching now its consummation, fast. 

Where is the soul bent down by weight of care. 
Which fails amid life's griefs, hope's joys to share, 
Unblest by thoughts that point the fainting eye 
To nature's God, who heareth ev'ry sigh? 
Let him, by faith, in vision scan 
Redemption's fathomless and sacred Plan. 
Then heav'n will smile with perfect love, 
And hymns of praise, will rise to God above. 



NATURE'S HOUSE OF PRAYER. 

Eternal One! who rules the universe, 

And in thy works thy mighty name didst carve; 

To thee my heart ascends in prayer, while low 

And prostrate at thy feet I fall within 

These silent woods. How solemn is the thought 

That thou art near; and in the breeze 

Which lulls the leaves to sleep in fall, thy voice 

Speaks to my soul in an unknown yet not 

Uncomprehensive tongue. Communion here I hold 

With thee which ne'er a mortal understands 

Unless his inward eye can penetrate 

Pure nature's secret depths. The little birds 

That softly sing while hopping to and fro 

In yonder birchen trees, teach me to give 

All praise and glory to thy name and turn 

Each beating of my pulse into 

A silent prayer. 



AUQ. 11 1902 
AUG. 15 190; 

44 N -VTURE'S HOUSE OF PRAYER. 

This is a house of God 
In which the nature-world adores the might 
Of him who rules supreme and who, with love 
And tender care keeps watch o'er all that he 
Hath made. When all around me gloomy seems 
And e'en my soul in courage fails, I come 
To this fond, hallowed place — all nature's house 
Of prayer. See how the trees in beauty clad 
Stand firm, erect and tall, beside the stream 
That murmurs, as it softly flows, some soft 
Inspiring tune, which wakens in my soul 
A sense of awe toward him whose eye divine 
Doth penetrate my heart. Olist! Upon the waves 
Of air, there rolls a deep and roaring sound 
As from some savage beast. But peace my soul, 
For he is near who gave these woods their birth, 
And hears thy prayer which from thy depths 
To him ascends. If he the sparrows feeds 
And clothes the lilies of the fields and in 
The fiery furnace, sends angelic help. 
Will he not also place his hand on Ihy 
Defenceless head, while in these woods, which 
Are all nature's house of prayer? 
Here let me dwell where naught my soul disturbs 
While meditative up to God she looks, 
Who is the source of all her peace and joy. 
Yea, even when my heart has ceased to beat 
A. id life has gone to him from whence it came; 
Dig here a grave for me and let me sleep 
Until the resurrection morn. 



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